1. Investing in Local People And Their Communities

2. Our mission is to empower people to work their way out of poverty, transforming their lives, their children’s futures and their communities. CED STRATEGIES… Opportunity International MISSION

3. Identify and work with communities that have organized leadership in place, engage leadership aspirationally Use economic data and asset research to assess potential value added economic opportunities Lead with economic development w/ focus on sustainable SME development Leverage local/US business expertise to evaluate, prioritize and implement investment opportunities Co-invest with the poor & share ownership benefits to incentivize social/community action CED STRATEGIES… Community Economic Development STRATEGIES

4. CED FOCUS FOR NICARAGUA … Agricultural Investments Goal: Target improved agricultural practices, add value to local crops, access new markets through… -Access to farm Loans -Transfer of Technology -Co-invest in a processing plant -ID new markets for local products -Profit sharing with farmers

5. Agricultural ProgramImpact-to-dateGrowth 2014 Farm loans220200 Farmers recieving technical assistance 299450 Increase in crop yields30% per acre Increase in net income/mza 50%At least 20% Extension agents trained3050 per year Products processed7maintain products Production margin18%maintain margin Agricultural SME IMPACT

6. Rural Aqueduct as SME Poorest 2 communities in Granada Without water for 12 years Cost of buying water: $5.30/cm Time hauling water: 2-4 hours day Co-Investment Policy: –Establish legal entity to operate aqueduct –First investors in the project –Provide Non-technical Labor –Manage aqueduct as a business

7. La Laguna Water Aqueduct

8. Financial Impact of Rural Aqueduct as SME Before SME After SME Impact Cost of Water (per cubic meter)$5.30$ 0.80$4.50/cm savings Monthly Cost per family$24.00$6.00$18.00/mo savings Monthly water consumption4.5 cm8 cm Annual Cost for water/family$288.$72.00$216.00/annual savings

9. Community Impact of Aqueduct as SME: More than 30 active leaders (70% women) Affordable Potable Water – 3,000 persons Unity among diverse groups Community Development Fund – Home Repair Loans Public/Private Collaboration: Road repair project (over $90k)

11. Community Economic Development Principles PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE Our WORK… Work is community based, with growth and transformation best realized in the context of community. The primary focus is on assets, both in people and in communities, not on needs or limitations. Lead with economic development. Make a Change! Lending to the poor has benefits beyond charity, and investing with the poor has benefits beyond lending. Invest in the leadership capacity of the community. Never do for the poor what they can do for themselves. Don’t get ahead of th e people. COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES